Writers' Guidelines
MyCastro.com has an ongoing need for relevant, informative articles on all subjects related to San Francisco's GLBT Castro Community. This includes (but is not limited to) articles about politics, civil rights, health, fashion, celebrity, events, social considerations, ethical questions, and discussions of actual events. We especially need articles which address practical issues such as what are neighborhood interests, San Francisco happenings, where to find good food, health topics, and so on. MyCastro.com has a particular need for Castro news worthy articles. And we are always interested in well-written celebrity news pertaining to the GLBT community. Civil rights and politics are always good topics as well.
If you are interested in writing for MyCastro.com, please click here and fill out the e-mail form in the Contact Us section of our website, or send an email directly to
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.
Prior to submitting:
A complete manuscript, please submit an article summary that includes a short writer biography, estimated length, title, resumes, and brief description.
Original Content:
What MyCastro.com is purchasing from you is the right to be the first place your article is published. Please do not place your article on the web, whether it is on your personal website or blog, or on a public discussion forum, until at least one full month after the issue's "drop date," which is the day the issue is mailed to subscribers. Rare exceptions are made from time to time.
In some (rare) circumstances, MyCastro.com will republish previously-published articles, or articles that are simultaneously being published elsewhere, but only if we are told in advance that the article has been published elsewhere before. If your article has been or will be published ANYWHERE else, whether on the web or off it, please tell us when submitting the article so that we can make the appropriate editorial decisions about it. Don't risk your reputation by giving us an unpleasant surprise.
Format:
Electronic submissions are preferred. Use MS Word .doc format when possible. If an electronic submission in .doc format is not possible for you for technical reasons, send an email to
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and ask for guidance how to proceed.
Include a header in the upper left corner of your document. The header should include the article title and number of words, along with your name and email address. Remember to keep articles between 500-1000 words. This information should be attached in this manner so that no matter what happens to the file after it leaves your hands, your contact data can never accidentally become separated from your article.
Your article should be presented in a standard font such as Times New Roman. Size should be at least 12 points.
Images:
Include at least three high-quality photographs with your article submission. More is better.
At the end of your article, add a list of your photos (filename.jpg) and their intended captions. To avoid confusion and missing photos, this information should be attached to your article on submission, even if the photos themselves are delayed and submitted separately. If you have a particular place within the body of the text where you visualized each picture, please mark those spots in the body, but also include the complete list of photographs and captions at the end of the article.
Remember that layout requests are just that, requests. Space constraints and other considerations will dictate the placement, size, and use of article illustrations.
Who Are You?
Include a short (100 words or less) blurb about yourself at the end of your article. This will be published on our website.
Example: James Henderson is a freelance writer who lives in San Francisco. He also works as an assistant editor at the Spectrum News Letter in San Francisco. Visit his personal website at www.myplace.com. (30 words)
Where Did You Get That?
If a product is mentioned within the body of your article, include contact information and price details at the end of your article. Similarly, if you quote a firearms instructor or a company spokesman, provide contact details for that person or company.
Who Said That?
All assertions of fact such as statistical data, historical quotations, or research summaries should be referenced to the original source. It is not sufficient to quote a book which is quoting another book. Instead, track the data back to the original source and cite that original source. Include author's name, book or article title, volume number if applicable, year of publication, and page number for the first cite. Subsequent cites can simply give author's name and page number.
IF YOU CANNOT SOURCE HARD DATA BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL CREATOR, PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE IT IN YOUR ARTICLE.
If your article includes more than three sourced quotations, put the source in footnotes to avoid breaking up the flow of your writing.
Payment:
Because MyCastro.com has traditionally preferred to work with beginning and previously-unpublished writers to develop our own talent pool, we ask writers to donate their first piece to the magazine. After that, writers are paid $10 per article with the potential for commissions on advertisement click through. Commissions are not guaranteed and payable at the end of each fiscal quarter. Compensation is issued after publication via direct deposit on the last calendar day of each month.
Pay:
$10 per article. 500-1000 words.
Professionalism:
Please respect all deadlines and space constraints. When your article goes over length, it means someone else's article is being cut, or someone's photo will not see print. If you do not feel you can keep the article within space constraints, notify the editor as soon as possible; we do have options that can be worked out on a case-by-case basis.
Getting It There:
Email is the preferred method for article submissions at MyCastro.com. Send your completed article, along with any photos and other attachments, to
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.
Be Honest:
In the interest of integrity, please disclose in the article if you got a special deal on the product, or are closely associated with the holster maker.
Include Good Photos:
All reviews need to be submitted with at least three good pictures, more if reasonably possible. A good review can be turned into a great review with good photos.
Voice:
Our readers appreciate a tone that is relatable. Be professional but a quick wit and unique voice goes a long way.
Inspiration:
A great way to increase your chances for selection would be to review past published works and take inspiration from past writers.
MyCastro.com is seeking talented, self motivated, and informed writers. MyCastro.com is a community cite for the LGBT community in San Francisco's Castro district. If you are passionate, informed, and great with weekly/monthly deadlines then please submit your work now.
Categories:
- National News:
National news worthy issue affecting the LGBT community.
- Castro News:
Castro news worthy article that our readers must be informed about.
- City News:
The latest news effecting San Francisco's residents. This article does not need to be gay LGBT specific but should be relevant to a wide scope of San Franciscan's
- Celebrity:
Current celebrity / gossip. The topic doesn't not need to cover LGBT celebrities specifically.
- Health / AIDS:
About current health and medical research effecting the Castro Community. This can cover outbreaks, HIV research, addiction, depression or any other medical issue relevant to the LGBT community.
- Events:
Reporting on upcoming events that our viewers would want to partake of. Events can include, street fairs, concerts, free events, and even citywide spots of interest.
What is important is that articles be fresh, current, and relevant to the Castro and LGBT community. Please have your own unique "voice," and flare. Creativity is encouraged.
Articles outside the Box
Sometimes, a really great article just defies being categorized. If you have an idea and would like to write something for MyCastro.com that does not fit neatly within any of the above categories, please drop an email to the editor at
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.
Thanks for your interest and good luck! |
